We passed through Malines and Brussels, where the chief citizens of the town begged us to let them know of it when we returned; for they too wished, like those of Mons, to have a festival for me.  I gave them very humble thanks, saying I did not deserve such honour.  I was two days and a half seeing the town of Antwerp, where certain merchants, knowing the steward, prayed he would let them have the honour of giving us a dinner or a supper:  it was who should have us, and they were all truly glad to hear how well M. d’ Auret was doing, and made more of me than I asked.

On my return, I found M. le Marquis enjoying himself:  and five or six days later I asked his leave to go, which he gave, said he, with great regret.  And he made me a handsome present of great value, and sent me back, with the steward, and two pages, to my house in Paris.

I forgot to say that the Spaniards have since ruined and demolished his Chateau d’ Auret, sacked, pillaged, and burned all the houses and villages belonging to him:  because he would not be of their wicked party in their assassinations and ruin of the Netherlands.

I have published this Apologia, that all men may know on what footing I have always gone:  and sure there is no man so touchy not to take in good part what I have said.  For I have but told the truth; and the purport of my discourse is plain for all men to see, and the facts themselves are my guarantee against all calumnies.

On the motion of the heart and blood in animals
by William Harvey
translated by Robert Willis
and revised by Alexander Bowie

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

William Harvey, whose epoch-making treatise announcing and demonstrating the ejaculation of the blood is here printed, was born at Folkestone, Kent, England, April 1, 1578.  He was educated at the King’s School, Canterbury, and at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge; and studied medicine on the Continent, receiving the degree of M.D. from the University of Padua.  He took the same degree later at both the English universities.  After his return to England he became Fellow of the College of Physicians, physician to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, and Lumleian lecturer at the College of Physicians.  It was in this last capacity that he delivered, in 1616, the lectures in which he first gave public notice of his theories on the circulation of the blood.  The notes of these lectures are still preserved in the British Museum.

In 1618 Harvey was appointed physician extraordinary to James I, and he remained in close professional relations to the royal family until the close of the Civil War, being present at the battle of Edgehill.  By mandate of Charles I, he was, for a short time, Warden of Merton College, Oxford (1645-6), and, when he was too infirm to undertake the duties, he was offered the Presidency of the College of Physicians.  He died on June 3, 1657.